Methodology in Scientific Work

Code:

MHP014

Acronym:

MTC

Instance: 2013/2014 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of History, Political and International Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in History and Heritage

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
EHP	0	Course Programme	1	-	8	70	216
MHP	14	MHP - Study Plan	1	-	8	70	216

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course unit is designed for students to learn the different stages in the construction of scientific knowledge, from choosing a topic to the final presentation of a dissertation, including the creation of databases and the selection of data collection and methods of analysis. Students will be provided with the opportunity to consolidate research procedures applied to key subjects of their field of study.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should be familiar with the different stages in the construction of scientific knowledge, from choosing a topic to the final presentation of a dissertation, including the creation of databases and the selection of data collection and methods of analysis. Students should consolidate research procedures applied to key subjects of their field of study.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

A. STAGES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE 1. Choosing a topic 2. The starting question: the research problem 3. Exploratory procedures. Bibliographic and documental research. 4. Building an analytical model – Hypotheses and Concepts 5. Fieldwork and data collection in Social and Human Sciences 6. Information analysis 7. Drawing conclusions B. DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES AND METHODS 1. Collection and systematization of document data 2. Surveys and interviews 3. Creating databases C. ANALYTICAL METHODS - Content analysis - Statistical analysis D. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS – STRUCTURING AND WRITING A SCIENTIFIC PAPER - Adjusting to a targeted audience - Criteria of formal scientificity - Structural components

Mandatory literature

QUIVY, Raymond ; Manual de investigação em ciências sociais , Gradiva, 1992
RAGIN, Charles C; Constructing social research: the unity and diversity of method. , Pine Forge Press, , 1994
ALMEIDA, João Ferreira de – A investigação nas Ciências Sociais: estudo elaborado no gabinete de investigações sociais. Lisboa: Editorial Presença, 1995
BERICAT, Eduardo – La integración de los métodos cuantitativo y cualitativo en la investigación social: significado y medida. Barcelona: Ariel, 1998
BERKHOFER, Jr. Robert F. – Beyond the great story: history as text and discourse. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University, 1997
BERRY, Ralph – The research project: how to write it. London: Routledge, [1996]
BLACK, Thomas R. – Doing quantitative research in the social sciences: an integrated approach to research design measurement and statistics. London: Sage, 1998
BOOTH, Wayne C. – The craft of research. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1995
BURTON, Dawn – Research training for social scientists: a handbook for postgraduate researchers. London: Sage Publications, 2000
CRESWELL, John W. – Research design: qualitative & quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks (California): Sage Publications, [1994]
DIAS, Maria Olívia – Métodos e técnicas de estudo e elaboração de trabalhos científicos. Coimbra: Minerva, 1999
El análisis de la realidad social: métodos y técnicas de investigación. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2000
Jeux d’échelles : la micro-analyse à l’experience. Paris : Gallimard, 1996
KETELE, Jean-Marie de – Metodologia da recolha de dados: fundamentos dos métodos de observação, de questionários, de entrevistas e de estudo de documentos. Lisboa: Instituto Piaget, [1999]
LAYDER, Derek – New strategies in social research: an introduction and guide. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1998
Metodologia aplicada de lãs ciências históricas: Historia Moderna. Santiago de Compostela: Universidad de Compostela, 1973
PIRET, Anne – L’anlyse structurale: une méthode d’analyse de contenu pour les sciences humaines. Paris : De Boeck Université, 1996
Researching society and culture. London: Sage, 1998
SANTANA CARDOSO, Ciro Flammarion – Los métodos de la historia: introducción a los problemas, métodos y técnicas de la historia demogáfica, económica y social, Barcelona: Editorial Crítica, 1979
SILVA, Augusto Santos; PINTO, José Madureira (orgs.) - Metodologia das Ciências Sociais. Porto: Edições Afrontamento, 1986
Theory, method and practice in social and cultural history. New York: University Press, 1992
WALLIMAN, Nicholas – Your research project: a step-by-step guide for the first-time researcher. London: Sage Publications, 2000
WRIGHT, Daniel B. – Understanding statistics: an introduction for the social sciences. London: Sage Publications, 19

Teaching methods and learning activities

TP: Theoretical and practical sessions using an interactive approach.Specific approaches provided by specialists from several different areas of the Social and Human Sciences. OT: Work in class applied to cases under study. Group discussion and reflection concerning individual research projects. PL: Applied research - practical exercises applied to case studies, seeking to cover the several fields of knowledge included in the curricular structure of the course.

Software

Power point

keywords

Humanities > Information science > Information management > Information processing
Social sciences > Educational sciences > Research methodology
Social sciences > Communication sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	90,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	30,00
Estudo autónomo	96,00
Frequência das aulas	30,00
Trabalho de investigação	20,00
Trabalho laboratorial	40,00
Total:	216,00

Eligibility for exams

Students are required to attend at least 75% of all teaching/learning modalities.

Calculation formula of final grade

The mark obtained in the paper weighs decisively towards the final mark, in addition to students’ participation in OT and TP sessions and the outcome of the exercises carried out in PL sessions, according to the following formula: TOTAL = 90% T + 10% E T = Applied research paper. Application of research procedures presented during contact hours to a given research project. E = Applied exercises.

Classification improvement

Improvement of marks shall follow the assessment modes defined for this course unit. Students may repeat or retake the test(s) in which they did not achieve a successful mark.